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Ongoing electrical mystery with 1995 Honda Civic


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matvei15
New User

May 1, 2013, 11:58 AM

Post #1 of 5 (1714 views)
  post locked   post icon Ongoing electrical mystery with 1995 Honda Civic  

1995
Honda
Civic
135k miles

Seeking assistance with my electrically problematic vehicle. I'll keep this brief and in bullet points:

  • Purchased brand new battery; battery connections are all clean, in tact, and not corroded
  • Car completely shut down on freeway (scary); initial visit to repair shop revealed a bad distributor, which ended up being replaced
  • No electrical problems after that for about a week
  • Wife left lights on while at work, required battery jump
  • A few days after, car would not start (thought perhaps battery couldn't hold charge?); jumped again and ran for a few days again
  • Brought car back to original repair shop as well as the parts store where battery was purchased; they both ran a load test = battery, alternator and starter all passed; repair shop could not find any other problem - car started every time for them
  • Car would then start intermittently but with some creative ways of turning the key in the ignition (ignition switch problem?), would eventually start
  • Car then ran consistently for about a month with no problems
  • Car now does not start again, regardless of how key is turned in ignition
  • (New) repair shop is currently looking at everything, but also confirms battery, starter, and alternator all pass load tests

My guess is one of three issues: Faulty wiring, a bad battery from so much electrical trauma (although not sure why it still passes load tests), or a bad ignition switch.

Any ideas?

Thanks!


matvei15
New User

May 1, 2013, 12:10 PM

Post #2 of 5 (1697 views)
  post locked   Re: Ongoing electrical mystery with 1995 Honda Civic  

I should also add that the last time the car didn't start, there was no clicking or noise of any sort (engine turning over, etc.) other than the standard beeping coming from the driver side door being open while the key was still in the ignition. I did not attempt to test the headlights while the car didn't start, which perhaps would've revealed more information.


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

May 1, 2013, 12:42 PM

Post #3 of 5 (1683 views)
  post locked   Re: Ongoing electrical mystery with 1995 Honda Civic  

Next time it does that tap on the starter with hammer while someone holds the ignition to the start position. Don't hit the starter too hard. If the starter takes off while tapping on it, time to replace the starter motor.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on May 1, 2013, 12:44 PM)


matvei15
New User

May 1, 2013, 2:59 PM

Post #4 of 5 (1666 views)
  post locked   Re: Ongoing electrical mystery with 1995 Honda Civic  

Ended up being an improperly wired alarm system draining the battery! Thanks for the help!


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

May 1, 2013, 3:28 PM

Post #5 of 5 (1659 views)
  post locked   Re: Ongoing electrical mystery with 1995 Honda Civic  

Glad to read you got it figured out. Wink Thanks for the follow up.

Closed as solved.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.






 
 
 






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